Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Renton, WA
VS
Sunnyvale, CA
🏆 Sunnyvale leads 16 of 23 categories
Renton
Washington
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,292
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
105,355
Sunnyvale
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$174,506 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
154,573 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Renton, WA
Pros
Homes cost $1104k less ($576,800 vs $1,680,700)
Rent averages $1126/mo less ($1,864 vs $2,990)
Smaller class sizes — 18.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sunnyvale by $82,214/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3313.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 30.8 min average each way
Sunnyvale, CA
Pros
Households earn $82,214 more per year on average
28% less violent crime than Renton
More college-educated — 68.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,680,700
Higher rents — median is $2,990/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
Renton
Median Home Value
$1104k less
$576,800 vs $1,680,700
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 113.0 on the COL index
Sunnyvale
Median Income
$82,214
$174,506 vs $92,292/yr
Sunnyvale
Violent Crime
28% lower
244.5 vs 339.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Renton, WA | Sunnyvale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 112.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,680,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,864⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,990⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,292 | $174,506 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% | 24.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 117⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.9% | 68.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.9% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Renton School District | Cupertino Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.0°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F ✓ Warmer | 76.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.0" | 13.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,355 | 154,573 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% ✓ More | 19.9% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 12.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Renton's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Sunnyvale's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Sunnyvale is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sunnyvale leads 16 of 23 categories. Renton wins 7 and Sunnyvale wins 16. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Renton to Sunnyvale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,800 vs $1,680,700 median home), income ($92,292 vs $174,506), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Renton, WA and Sunnyvale, CA are about 697 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.